Bus Electrification – Exploring Green Options for Sustainable Public Transportation

We are all aware of how important public transportation is, as many people from all over the globe depend on it in their everyday functioning. Getting around by using public transportation is already a big step in protecting nature from the bad influence of exhaust gases, as we drastically reduce them in this way, but there is much more we can do for our planet, and if you are interested in finding out what, click here.

Source: modeshift.com

Why is this change important?

Let’s start from the basics and explain why it is so important for us to make some changes and use sustainable public transportation, or, specifically, electric buses instead of regular ones. The answer to that question is pretty simple – we have only one planet where we can live, and protecting it from negative influence and reducing pollution is extremely important. And, speaking about pollution, the carbon dioxide emissions from public transportation affect climate changes that can be pretty dangerous for all living creatures on our planet.

Luckily, the awareness of the importance of reducing pollution and protecting our environment is on the rise, and specialists are searching for innovative solutions. Of course, it depends on each individual, and each of us should pay more attention to many so-called trifles that can affect our environment. Recycling should be one of the habits each of us should have, and when it comes to getting around, we need to be aware of the exhaust gases our vehicles produce and choose walking or cycling whenever possible.

If avoiding vehicles is not possible, it is always better to use public transportation because of one logical fact – buses can transport more than 50 people at the same time, while, for example, cars can transport only five. Because of that, it is important to improve buses even more and reduce carbon dioxide emissions to a minimum, and electrification is one of the best ways to achieve it.

What is electrification?

The next thing we will explain is the term electrification and why it is important for all of us. As we have already mentioned, it is crucial to do more for our planet, and minimizing the carbon print and greenhouse emissions is one of the best ways to start that journey. Vehicles we use now are big pollutants and drastically affect the quality of our lives. Their engines use various fuels for their operation, and no matter what fuel they use, the emission of harmful gasses is pretty high. Electrification of the vehicles literally means changing the way these engines operate and switching them to using electric energy instead of harmful fuels. In that way, we completely neutralize the exhaust gases, as these vehicles even do not have exhaust pipes.

Source: idahobusinessreview.com

Benefits

Switching to electric vehicles has a lot of benefits, and e-buses are one of the best ways to make a big step in protecting our planet. Because of that, we will explain some of them further to emphasize the importance of electrification.

Reduced emissions of harmful gasses

As we have already mentioned, the main benefit of electrification is reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as it is one of the main culprits for drastic climate changes. Climate changes affect every living being on the planet and can bring us serious problems in the future that can even threaten the existence of some of them. Of course, less harmful gasses mean fresher air and much healthier people on the globe, without respiratory problems.

Reduced noise

People who live in big cities know exactly how noisy public transportation can be, as it can literally affect the quality of their sleep, making them tired all the time. Not having enough sleep at night can lead to exhaustion and feeling nervous all the time, which can eventually lead to some more severe health issues. Luckily for those who live in big cities, the future is bright, and switching to e-buses means there are no more noisy nights without sleep.

Of course, since e-busses are almost inaudible, it is crucial to be more careful when crossing the street, even on the zebra crossing, and always look twice.

Source: citizensustainable.com

Energy recycling

One of the proofs that e-buses are sustainable is the fact that most of them have the ability to convert kinetic energy into electrical energy when braking and store it until it is necessary to power the bus. It is extremely important, as not only the energy is literally recycled and can be used again, but it is also perfect for the braking system.

Battery recycling

Although the batteries used to power up e-busses are made of high-quality materials, it is important to understand they cannot last forever, and it is crucial to check their condition occasionally. Over time, they lose their capacity, and once it is almost completely lost, it is time to replace it. Replacing should always be done by a professional, and the old battery should be disposed of in a proper way so it can be recycled. Not properly disposing of the empty battery can do more harm than good to our environment, and because of that, it is crucial to be responsible when it comes to it.

Source: electricautonomy.ca

The bottom line

As you can see, there are many ways to protect the environment and reduce the negative impact people have on it. Of course, it is the responsibility of each of us personally, and each of us should take the necessary steps to achieve it, since our environment is the most important heritage we leave to our descendants. Planting some wood, recycling everything that can be recycled, and properly disposing of harmful materials are just the small steps each of us should take, and the most important is that these steps are actually extremely simple but can mean a lot for our planet. Switching to e-vehicles and electrifying public transportation is the bigger step for the entire humanity and can make a big change in air quality in the long run.